Symptoms of congestive heart failure usually begin slowly and may initially be seen only during periods of activity. However, over time, shortness of breath and other symptoms may be observed even in times of peace. Congestive heart failure is a condition where the heart is a pump inefficient or weak. This article shares information, so you can learn the symptoms associated with this chronic disease to recognize and start an online diagnostic tool that allows you to prepare for your visit to the doctor's office and its form.
This heart defect is a condition for the long term and chronic, which usually exists on both sides of the heart. However, the disease affects only the right side of the heart (right heart failure) or left (left heart failure). The condition occurs when the heart muscles are weak and unable to effectively pump blood from the heart (systolic heart failure) or when your heart muscles are stiff and not easy to fill with blood (diastolic failure).
In any form of heart failure, the heart is unable to pump adequate oxygen-rich blood to the body, especially in times of physical activity or exercise.
Symptoms of congestive heart failure and causes
Symptoms tend to develop slowly, however, suddenly develop in some cases, such as after a heart attack or other heart problems. Initially, symptoms can be seen only during periods of activity. Over time, symptoms may also occur during periods of rest.
The most common symptoms of congestive heart failure are:
• Shortness of breath during exercise or when they are
• Cough
• Swelling, legs, feet and ankles (pooling of blood)
• Swelling of the abdomen
• Weight gain
• Loss of appetite, indigestion
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Low blood pressure
• Weakness and fatigue
• Palpitations (feeling the pulse)
• Sleep disorders
• Other symptoms may include:
• Decreased alertness or ability to concentrate
• Decreased urine output
• urination at night (need to get out of bed to go to the bathroom)
• Nausea and vomiting
When congestive heart failure is present in a child, a parent or guardian notification of the sweat of the baby during feedings and other activities. Some people have no symptoms. In these individuals, symptoms may occur only with an accompanying condition such as anemia, arrhythmias (abnormal heart beat or rhythm), hyperthyroidism, infection with high fever, and kidney disease.
Congestive heart failure is often the result of a major complication of some chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, which is a narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Other causes may exist, and infections of the heart muscle infection (ie, cardiomyopathy), congenital heart disease, several heart attacks, heart valve disease, or weakened some. Other diseases that may contribute to heart failure, chronic high blood pressure (hypertension), emphysema (lung disease in smokers of long-term), severe anemia, hyperthyroidism.
Diagnosis and treatment of heart failure
Diagnosis may begin with the observation of the above symptoms and should be confirmed by an evaluation by a doctor. The assessment may include a physical examination, ECG, X-rays, MRI Cardiac CT scan of the heart, echocardiography, angiography (x-ray of the heart and blood vessels with radiopaque contrast half), cardiac catheterization, nuclear heart scan and analysis blood or urine tests.
A doctor will monitor your condition closely, with frequent follow-up visits (ie, every 3 to 6 months). You should also closely monitor the condition and weigh themselves often. Weight gain may indicate that the body fluid.
Home care includes taking prescribed medications, limiting salt intake, stop smoking, stay physically active, under the guidance of your doctor, control or lose weight, getting enough rest with your feet.
Your doctor may prescribe medications to help control symptoms, such as:
• ACE inhibitors open blood vessels and reduces the workload of the heart (ie, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril and ramipril)
• Diuretics, which the accumulation of fluid (ie, hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, chlorothiazide, furosemide, Torsemide, bumetanide and spironolactone) to reduce
• Digitalis glycosides, which help the heart muscle to contract properly and help treat some cardiac arrhythmias
• angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which can be taken in place of ACE inhibitors (such as losartan and candesartan)
• Beta-blockers (carvedilol, metoprolol IE)
Certain medicines should not be considered as they can aggravate congestive heart failure. These medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), thiazolidinediones, metformin, cilostazol, PDE-5 inhibitors (sildenafil, vardenafil), and others. Discuss medications with your doctor.
